straight or double bend forehand

[tennispal]

hi guys. my backhand is my best shot, but my forehand is coming along.

right now i use a straight arm forehand. i it seems to be the more powerful and the more beautiful. it is insanely good when my timing is on, and the arm is just whipping around. however, when i am not on i tend to spin my forehand in and in general it does not feel sturdy (probably timing is slightly off).

now i can easily do a double bend forehand too. i choose to do a straight arm because i like the feel of it more. to me the double bend seems more sturdy, more like a counterpunching forehand. it wont get as hot as the straight arm, but its solid.

do you think my insistence on the straight arm forehand is hurting my game? is the straight arm too hard for a recreational player to master, esp. on the player's weaker wing (as my forehand is)?

 

[NamRanger]

hi guys. my backhand is my best shot, but my forehand is coming along.

right now i use a straight arm forehand. i it seems to be the more powerful and the more beautiful. it is insanely good when my timing is on, and the arm is just whipping around. however, when i am not on i tend to spin my forehand in and in general it does not feel sturdy (probably timing is slightly off).

now i can easily do a double bend forehand too. i choose to do a straight arm because i like the feel of it more. to me the double bend seems more sturdy, more like a counterpunching forehand. it wont get as hot as the straight arm, but its solid.

do you think my insistence on the straight arm forehand is hurting my game? is the straight arm too hard for a recreational player to master, esp. on the player's weaker wing (as my forehand is)?

The straight arm forehand lacks consistency from what I've seen. The timing is hard, and if they hit hard to that side, it can be hard for you to recover because your POC is so far out in front.

 

[tennispal]

yea. for now, i can hit my forehand real well when i have time to set up. accurate, penetrating, with enough spin and consistent. basically the perfect finishing shots. but when i am pressured i struggle. but maybe i can work around that by working on goood and early prep?

 

[NamRanger]

yea. for now, i can hit my forehand real well when i have time to set up. accurate, penetrating, with enough spin and consistent. basically the perfect finishing shots. but when i am pressured i struggle. but maybe i can work around that by working on goood and early prep?

It's one of the reasons why Federer is so dominant.

 

[OJ ROD]

Double bend... Straight arm... in all my days I have never heard such things. Someone please explain for I am rather intrigued. LOL

 

[obnoxious2]

Use a combination of those 2. I know i usually hit with somewhat double bend but when i go for a kill shot, its a straight arm. So if your out of position play the safer way until you got time to setup.

 

[quicken]

Double bend... Straight arm... in all my days I have never heard such things. Someone please explain for I am rather intrigued. LOL

Those terms are used to describe a player's forehand hitting style.

For double bend, go look up either Roddick or Djokovic on youtube
For straight arm, go look up either Nadal or Federer on youtube.

Double bend basically has an elbow bend when you hit the ball.

Straight arm technique is when the player does not have a bend at the elbow at contact with the ball.

 

[split-step]

Use whatever you hit better with, as long as the basic technical contructs are there.

 

[stormholloway]

The straight arm forehand lacks consistency from what I've seen. The timing is hard, and if they hit hard to that side, it can be hard for you to recover because your POC is so far out in front.

How can a technique lack consistency? It's the hitter, not the shot.

I'm straight arm all the way. The leverage is far superior. It's a more demanding shot I will admit, but if you feel the ball is coming to close then take that straight arm out in front.

This is a shot that you really need to groove with but once you find it it's quite rewarding.

 

[tennispal]

it seems to me that people tend to muscle the double bend forehand, while the straight arm forehand is more like a whip and harder to muscle. is this impression accurate?

 

[counter_puncher]

i use to use straight, but now bend on recommendation from coach.
cant really feel the difference, although my forehand seems worse...

 

[tennispal]

i use to use straight, but now bend on recommendation from coach.
cant really feel the difference, although my forehand seems worse...

what difference?